The Courtyard House: He Yuzhu Returns with Boundless Hatred for Revenge

The next afternoon, He Yuzhu was a little late leaving get off work because he had a task to prepare food for a banquet. Instead of going straight back to the courtyard house, he went to the market and bought some meat. He planned to make dumplings with his sister that evening.

Back at the courtyard gate, Yan Bugui was already standing there like a guardian deity. Upon seeing He Yuzhu, Yan Bugui adjusted his nearly worn-out glasses. Yi Zhonghai had given him five yuan to buy a new pair, but how could the old man, always picking his nose, bear to buy a new one? Of course, he'd just patch them up and keep using them. At that moment, the old man was looking at He Yuzhu with a gloating expression, a smirk playing on his lips, and letting out a cold, ambiguous snort.

He Yuzhu didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, completely ignoring Yan Bugui, and walked straight past him. He'd lose if he wasted a single word on that stingy old man.

However, as soon as He Yuzhu stepped into the courtyard, he keenly sensed that something was wrong.

The neighbors were glancing at him, whether intentionally or unintentionally, either whispering or talking amongst themselves.

This feeling became even stronger when he entered the central courtyard. For example, in the Jia family's house in the west wing, He Yuzhu could clearly feel that there were more than one pair of malevolent eyes staring intently at him from behind the window.

The air was thick with a sense of impending doom, like the calm before a storm, waiting for a trigger to erupt completely.

He Yuzhu sneered inwardly, "Looks like those old beasts can't wait any longer. They're probably going to hold that damn hospital-wide meeting tonight."

This whole academy meeting was none of his business. If he wanted to participate, he could just go out for a stroll, watch the beasts' performance, provoke the old beast, and slap a few big bastards. If he didn't want to participate, he could just close the door and beat up whoever knocked. Relying on his own strength and the information and knowledge he brought from later generations, he was completely fearless of any challenge, whether it was a physical attack or mental radiation.

At this moment, He Yuzhu felt like the male protagonist in a novel from later generations, with the entire academy as his enemy, his physical body becoming a saint, breaking laws with force, impervious to all laws, and destroying all things with nothingness.

When they reached the door of their main house, He Yushui knocked and called out "Sister!" He Yushui quickly opened the door and welcomed her brother inside.

The little girl has been eating well and sleeping well these past few days. With the nourishment of the spiritual spring water, her complexion has become much rosier, and she looks radiant. She even seems to have grown a little taller—of course, this is just He Yuzhu's illusion.

"Hmm." He Yuzhu entered the room and found that his younger sister had tidied it up considerably. A warmth spread through his heart, but a hint of self-mockery also crept in. He hadn't shaken his lazy habit in his past life, and his room was always a mess. Now that he was reborn, it seemed he still needed to find a wife to manage things. His younger sister was growing up, and it wouldn't look good to always have her make the bed and do the laundry.

Once the thought arose, it was hard to stop. Yes, I can't live like I did in my last life, remaining a bachelor until my forties before marrying a widow who was involved in a ring-making scheme, only to end up in ruins and freeze to death under a bridge.

He then thought of Lou Xiao'e, the woman who had left him an heir. She had helped him to the very end, but he also sensed that Lou Xiao'e didn't love him; it was more out of gratitude and for the sake of their son, He Xiao.

He doesn't plan to marry any of the women he's been with in his previous life. After all, the world is so vast, does he have to marry only one of them? If that's all he's got, then the heavens he's been reborn with have gone blind for the second time, and he'll be called an idiot.

As for Lou Xiao'e, given their past acquaintance and the kindness of having a child with her, he wouldn't let her marry that scoundrel Xu Damao. He'd just find an opportunity to remind the Lou family to flee to Hong Kong as soon as possible. As for making connections, was that enough? He, a respectable third-generation farmer, wasn't prepared to associate with big capitalists; it would bring no benefit and only cause trouble.

"Brother, you bought meat? What are we having for dinner tonight?" He Yushui, with her sharp eyes, noticed the meat in He Yuzhu's hand and her cheerful tone immediately pulled He Yuzhu back from his thoughts.

"Let's make dumplings. The rainy season is over, so let's knead the dough and let it rest. I'll chop the meat filling."

"Hey!" He Yushui responded and skipped off to the kitchen. Although she had been eating plenty of oily food these past two days, she was still very happy to hear that there would be dumplings to eat. In the past, she might not even get to eat many dumplings during the New Year, as they all ended up in other people's stomachs!

He Yuzhu worked quickly and efficiently, chopping the meat filling in no time. He also chopped some cabbage, added seasonings, and mixed it all together. The aroma soon filled the air.

He Yushui kneaded the dough, placed it in a bowl, covered it with a damp cloth, and let it rest. Then she came over to peel and mash the garlic. Watching her brother's profile as he focused on preparing the filling, she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. This was a life she had never dared to dream of before.

"Brother, I feel like something's been off in the yard today," He Yushui said quietly while peeling garlic. "The neighbors were giving me the creeps when I came home from school, so I ran in. I'm a little scared."

He Yuzhu continued working with his hands and said calmly, "It's alright, what are you afraid of with your brother here? They're just a bunch of clowns, ignore them."

"Oh." He Yushui nodded obediently. She blindly trusted her brother now; if he said it was okay, then it must be okay.

Seeing his younger sister's focused expression, He Yuzhu felt the vengeful spirit gathering in his heart dissipate somewhat. Having been reborn, protecting his sister and ensuring her safe and happy growth was his responsibility.

After finishing wrapping the dumplings, He Yuzhu boiled water, preparing to cook them. Just then, Yan Jiecheng took a gong and started banging it around, shouting.

"Notice! Notice! Attention all residents of the compound! A general meeting will be held at the Intermediate People's Court at 7:30 PM sharp! Every household must send someone to attend! There is an important announcement to make! I'm repeating this again..."

The sounds of gongs and shouts echoed through the front, middle, and back courtyards, clearly reaching every household.

He Yuzhu's lips curled into a mocking smile. They've come, just as expected.

He glanced out the window. Night was falling, and the lights in each house in the courtyard were coming on one by one, illuminating the shadowy figures, like a ghost market.

"Brother, there's a meeting coming up, what if..." He Yushui looked at He Yuzhu with some unease.

"Let them drive their cars, we'll eat our dumplings." He Yuzhu didn't care at all, throwing the dumplings into the boiling water. "Nothing is more important than eating."

Soon, the dumplings were cooked, scooped out, and placed on a plate. Each dumpling was plump and thin-skinned, emitting an enticing aroma. The brother and sister ate them with great relish, enjoying the delicious flavor.

The noise in the courtyard gradually increased; the sounds of doors opening, tables and chairs being moved, and people talking could be heard. The central courtyard was being set up for a meeting.

The brother and sister sat peacefully in their house, eating dumplings and chatting, as if the noise outside had nothing to do with them.